Stafford Landfill - Environment Going to Lose Again?
Stafford Township passed an ordinance to allow the Stafford Landfill, which was closed with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Stafford Township and the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, to have solar panels built on top. This ignored the fact that during the MOA process the landfill portion of the Stafford Business Park was deed restricted for open space.
Back in June of 2006, when the
MOA was signed by Stafford Township, the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey Pinelands Commission for the redevelopment of the Stafford Business Park property a requirement was placed that after its proper capping, the landfill portion would be deed restricted for open space.
[+ ZOOM] Stafford Business Park & Landfill site during construction © PPA Pinelands Preservation Alliance has no objection to the construction of solar panels on landfills in Regional Growth Areas of the Pinelands, but in this case the deed restriction precludes the landfill from being converted because it has been dedicated to open space in a natural condition. The
deed restriction, which in December 2006 was filed, states “that the Restricted Area be forever protected and preserved in its natural, scenic, open and existing state free from all activities that might damage, compromise or interfere with the ecological diversity, natural beauty or resource quality, or with the natural processes occurring.”
Pinelands Preservation Alliance has
no objection to the construction of solar panels on landfills in Regional Growth Areas of the Pinelands, but in this case the deed restriction precludes the landfill from being converted because it has been dedicated to open space in a natural condition.
But in May of this year, Stafford Township passed
Resolution 2010-128 to amend its Redevelopment Agreement with Walters Homes, Inc. This resolution allows for two changes to be made. The first was for a change of the required numbers of homes allowed for in the original agreement, which was 565 attached and detached age restricted homes. Walters Homes, Inc. now wants the agreement to read “permit but not require up to 565 market rate residential units” and for these units to be non-age restricted homes. The agreement also allows for 220 of these 565 units to be apartments. The second change is for “renewable energy facilities” to be added to the closed landfill.
(map showing layout of solar panels)
Stafford Township has indicated that the renewable energy facility will be constructed in three phases. The first two phases would include approximately 3 to 3.5 MW of solar electricity each and the third phase will include approximately 3 to 4 wind turbines. (
click here for Summary Report filed with the Pinelands Commission) A total of 24,624 solar panels will be placed on the closed landfill.
[+ ZOOM] Sal Sorce testifes before the Stafford Township Committee. © PPA
To now release the deed restriction that was placed on the landfill property, Amy Cradic, Assistant Commissioner of Natural Resources has written the Township of Stafford. The August 20, 2010 letter states that the execution of a lease for the solar project with Walters will trigger the New Jersey Green Acres diversion process.
(view letter) The lease of the landfill property is classified as a major parkland diversion pursuant to
NJAC 7:36-26.10 of the Green Acres rules. (page 119)
Under the Green Acres rules Stafford Township is required to hold a public scoping hearing which has been scheduled for September 27, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Stafford Township Municipal Building, 260 East Bay Avenue. Please attend and voice your concerns!
Written comments will be accepted until October 11, 2010 and need to be mailed to:
Jim Moran, Administrator - Stafford Municipal Building - 260 E. Bay Avenue - Stafford Township, NJ 08050
with a copy to:
DEP, Green Acres Program - Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship Mail Code 501-01 - Box 420 - Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420
Read more in PPA's current issue of the Pinelands Watch.
Ordinance 2010-04, passed by Stafford Township, which makes changes to the Redevelopment Plan, will need to be certified by the Pinelands Commission. This process involves an opportunity for public comment and PPA will post the date and time of the public hearing when it has been scheduled. Watch for updates on this process!
Also the MOA, between Stafford Township, Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Pinelands Commission, will have to be amended. This amendment process will require a public hearing. Watch for updates on this process!
View location of Stafford Business Park on a Google Map
Reports submitted to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission:
Report - Stafford Business Park, August 10, 2010 -
1.0MB
Evaluation of Proposed Solar Panels on Native Wildlife - Herpetological Associates
Report - Stafford Business Park, July 2010 -
418.6KB
Proposed Solar Panel Vegetation Impacts, by Joe Arsenault
Recent news coverage:
News - Stafford Bus Park 09 Aug 2010 -
21.1KB
Atlantic City Press,
Residents criticize Stafford Township council for ignoring business park development restrictions, by Bob Spahr.
News - Stafford Bus Park 12 Aug 2010 -
41.6KB
Asbury Park Press,
PPA protests Stafford solar project by Nichols Huba.
News - Stafford Bus Park Aug 2010 -
362.1KB
Stafford Leader,
Green Groups Putting Heat on Solar Plan, by Rich Mellerup.
News - Stafford Bus Park, August 17 2010 -
41.1KB
Asbury Park Press,
Stafford council approves amendment to Stafford Business Park by Nicholas Huba
Find Related Info: Ocean County,
Stafford Business Park
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